Nigeria's anti-gay law: A supporter comments

A reader commented on one of my posts about the anti-gay legislation in Nigeria. I’m posting the comment here, and opening the subject for discussion, respectfully.

Writes Rashlek:

Nigeria anti- gay law is an appropriate law for nigerians in nigeria. Never only based on our religion inclinations but also on our moral and cultural background and core norms of our society. Even though heterosexual intercouse is the commonest source of HIV spreading in nigeria, but homosexuality is among high risk groups for HIV infection spread. Also access to HIV treatment in nigeria does not base on sexual orientation, you dont need to disclose ur status before receving treatment, so homosexuals should feel free to access HIV treatment. Homosexuality will pose a big global population challenge in future i.e under population. Which can impact on future economy, e.t.c. I believe homosexulity is a disease, never human right in real sense and world should help to cure it to save the world from self inflicted genocide. However, Govt. should guide the homosexuals against unlawful assaults in the society.

My response to Rashlek: With some 8 billion people on the planet now and our inability to adequately feed and house everyone, I don’t think a small percentage of people in same-sex relationships is going to leave the world underpopulated — and there have always been gay people. As for “homosexuality” being a disease, there is no medical evidence to support that line of thought. I think the real reason so many people in Nigeria and other countries oppose same-sex relationships can be found in Rashlek’s second sentence, re: “moral and cultural background and norms of our society.” But it is a mindset that needs to change if the nation wants to be seen as one that truly respects human rights. The “norm” should never be to dictate the parameters of love between consenting adults. The “core norms” of Nigeria are, in this case, based on superstitious, exclusionary and often hateful fundamentalism and propaganda. Around the world, more and more people are turning away from this old fundamentalism.

I open this for respectful discussion. Send in your comments and I will post them below.

If you post your comments through the wordpress system, only wordpress subscribers can see them. So, I will copy and paste them in to the bottom here so that everybody can see them.

Jillian

Readers’ comments

Policies are usually not wholesome solutions but guides and bills to discourage people from going overboard. forget population forget health what about the intent of creation everything placed in the body of a man and a woman has its purpose let’s talk about violating that purpose let’s talk about the fact that when u abuse the use of a thing balance is altered. no matter how blind we want to be to Gods existence there is a God and he makes no mistakes, only humans do. we make choices and when we suffer the consequences we say there is no God .

— Kate

Kate, not everybody believes in God the same way you do. You are entitled to your beliefs, but you are not entitled to force them on others and to persecute them.

— Jillian

*******

I recognise your personal ideals that support the rights of an individual to engage in homosexuality. From your writing, it is obvious that you see homosexuality as mere physical attraction between two persons of the same sex. But millions of Nigerians do not see it that way. Regardless of bad the press the country has faced over time, her people are deeply religious and hinged their stance against homosexuality on Biblical and Quranic injunctions.

In addition, you proposed in your column that Nigeria should jettison her culture which do not favour homosexuality. You tagged the culture a mere ‘mindset that needs to change’. I wonder if that’s how you view your own culture: a mere mindset that you have to change just to keep up with the Joneses.

Take note Jillian, that unlike what you wrote in your column, Nigerians’ belief about how ignoble homosexuality is not steeped in ‘superstitious, exclusionary and often hateful fundamentalism and propaganda’.

I wondered how you came about your opinion. Did you do any extensive research on this subject among Nigerians? Did you take a poll? Is anything superstitious about Nigerian culture, Bible and Qur’an? Since when did a ban on homosexuality become an exercise in ‘fundamentalism’? What’s exclusionary in preserving our culture?

Not too long ago, Nigerians fought against a bill that was meant to legalise under-age marriage. Everyone spoke out loud and clear against it. Again, Nigerians have spoken loud and clear: homosexuality is not part of our way of life. If the West does not like that, we owe it no apologies.

Thank you.

— Tonye

Tonye, I understand your perspectives, but it is clear to the world that not everybody in your country shares your beliefs. What gives anyone in your country the right to persecute — imprison or kill — people who do not share your belief system? That is not Christian at all. Why do you not leave the judging to God? And why does God not speak for Itself?

— Jillian

*******

Jillian the western world should learn not to imposed upon Africans its cultures and practices. It cool to lock up polygamists in your society while we condole it in Africa. Don’t you think polygamist in the US and Canada got human rights too? How do we reconcile Human Rights and Democracy? When a few LGBT who wants to impose their views on the majority under the guise of Human Rights. The majority have the rights not to be offended by the minority (LGBT) and polls shows that over 90% of Nigerians are in support of the law. In Nigeria the “Jail the Gays Law” is meant to protect long hold ideals on cultural definition of decency. It is to protect the majority against gays kissing in public or gays holding gay parades. It also a public health issue in Nigeria because Gays had 17% prevalent rates on HIV as against 3%. The best solution is for countries that are cool with the LGBT people to grand then asylum.

— Dante

*******

They call us anti-gay, I call them anti-christ. Jilllian, don’t be an anti-christ.

— John

*******

I agree that it’s the mindset that needs to change, and mindsets can change given the right opportunity and fair education. The problem with governments passing laws like this only slows down the rate of opportunity and support that’s needed from a knowledgable government.

@John: what’s wrong with someone being an “anti-christ”? It shouldn’t make your faith less important to you.

— Deepu

*******

To both John and Deepu and others who might be wondering, I am no anti-Christ nor believe in such a persona. I am a Theosophist — very spiritual, and believe that most religions are stepping stones in the path to enlightenment. You can read more about Theosophy at http://www.theosociety.org.

This Week's Flyers

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.